IMAGE THE SIXTH.

EXAMINE INTO THY DEFECTS, AND DO THY DILIGENCE TO ROOT OUT VICE, AND TO PLANT THE TREE OF VIRTUE.

Take heed, O thou who studiest perfection, that thou dost often examine (A) thy Conscience, and of it demand the account (B), as if in the presence of Christ the Judge (C). Place before thine eyes the commandments of God (D), and thine own rules and resolutions (E). Behold how the demon accuseth thee (F), and how little good (G) thou hast done. Trample Sin under thy feet (H), and see how thou mayst avoid it. And now, by a holy and firm resolution of mind, cut down the Tree of sin (I), whose fruit is death, and plant within thee some new Virtue (K). Then take thou the armour of the Spirit, and oppose (L) with peculiar examination and care the Vice which most besets thee (M). Such is that which chiefly and more immediately retards thee in the keeping of the Ten Commandments (N), or of thine own rules and resolutions (O), that is to say, in the way of God. Watch thou for every Occasion (P) of victory, and observe that the first step in a holy life is the most difficult, the second is more easy, and the third the most easy; for Virtue herself (Q) shall come down to aid thee, as thou advancest on the way to Heaven.

G

Of General and Particular Examination.

AMONGST other exercises of piety, which are greatly conducive towards advance in holiness, is that of frequently searching into one's conscience, and adopting some method of self-examination. Of this we are able to

say, “if we judge ourselves we shall not be judged of the Lord." Make this general examination as if thou wert solemnly entering upon it in the presence of God, with thy Guardian Angel at thy side, and the devil accusing thee. Now this consists of five parts, which may first of all be briefly stated, and then drawn out a little more at length. It will be found highly profitable to weigh these rules with serious meditation, so that afterwards such examination may be daily entered upon again and again with much fruit and efficacy.

Points of general exami

nation.

The first, is giving of thanks for all benefits received.

The second, is supplication for Grace for knowing and detesting our sins.

The third, is entering into a strict account with oneself, by beginning from our last examination, and as far as it is possible, examining our thoughts, words, and works, by the rule of the Ten Commandments, or by that prescribed to us by the rules we have set ourselves, or have been imposed on us by others.

The fourth, is detestation of our defects and sins, which may be stirred up by various considerations.

The fifth, is firm resolution, by which a man determines to order his life better for the future; and it will further this end, to see beforehand what things one may be called upon to do and suffer, and by these means to have the mind prepared for either.

Method of

Exercise of General Examination.

POINT THE FIRST.

CONSIDER, first of all, under how many titles and attributes it is right we should offer thanks to our Creator and Benefactor. And, thanksgiv- secondly, lift up thine eyes above, and thou wilt observe that ing. no other is the employment of the blessed spirits. Thirdly,

turn thine eyes below, and thou wilt hear in hell no other sounds but those of ingratitude, and unceasing maledictions against infinite goodness. And now consider which of these two thou wouldst wish to resemble. Fourthly, consider what little return thou art able to make for benefits so great which He hath conferred on thee, and together with all orders of Saints, and companies of Angels, lift up the voice of thine heart, and with all thine heart strive to praise our Lord and God; as it has been already expressed in many points under the last subject.

POINT THE SECOND.

of the Holy

CONSIDER with what great darkness we are encompassed; what errors overwhelm the world, and lead away the wisest of mor- How necestals into the most base crimes and madnesses. Secondly, how say the light many Saints have fallen into the most grievous dangers on Spirit. account of secret sins. Thirdly, how uncertain we must always be whether we be worthy of love or hatreda. From hence we may infer with what great humility and perseverance we ought to pray to God the Father to strengthen our memory; to God the Son to enlighten our understanding; to the Holy Spirit, especially, to bestow abundantly upon us the will to abhor known sins.

POINT THE THIRD.

Method of self-exami

nation.

CONSIDER the pathways of thine house ;-enter into the chamber of thine heart, and observe how necessary it is to cleanse that, and to heal thy soul: first of all from deadly wounds, and to cast out from thence the mortal enemies, which occupy that throne on which our most loving Saviour Jesus Christ would have deigned to sit,—to come unto us with the Father and the Holy Spirit and to make His abode with us. And if you will only consider with what diligent care you wish all things to be clean which have respect unto the body, you may easily conclude from that what ought to be the case with the soul, which in value exceeds the heaven and earth. Secondly, behold how useful it is to make up thine accounts now, and so to repair the losses thou hast suffered in thine eternal interests, and to look forward to the future. Thirdly, how great a part of prudence it is to perfect thyself, and to notice where we may have deviated from what is right by mistake, where from wickedness, where from softness. This it is, saith Seneca, which maketh us very bad; that no one looketh into his own life. We think, indeed, of what we may be about to do, yet a Eccles. ix. 1.